Need ideas for alternative to JavaScript for comparing two inputText values

Question

Hello
I am currently using the JavaScript method to check if the values of two inputText components are equal.
If the values are not equal an alert box is displayed. In either case the action on the bean is performed and in the action method the two bean property values are compared again, if they don't match the action returns null and the for is redisplayed.
I don't like this method because:
A) it seems long winded and wasteful
B) the JavaScript dialog box is out of character with the rest of the form, where validation errors are returned as messages next to the offending component.
On one of the inputText components I already do a custom validation to check that the input value is a valid javax.mail.internet.InternetAddress.
Does anyone know of any other method ideas, perhaps using Value Change Events that will allow a message to be written against the second inputText component if the two values did not match, and which could be done before the Invoke Application event. I have tried something along these lines but have failed.
Many thanks in advance...

Answer 1

If you can use a custom tag for the validator instead of the standard f:validator tag,
there is a better way:
The custom tag has an attribute , eg. "forId", to specify the ID of another component.
Then, your validator can use the attribute for the parameter of findComponent().
Something like:
YourValidatorTagHandler.java
     protected Validator createValidator() throws JspException {
          YourValidator val = (YourValidator)super.createValidator();
          val.setForId(forId);
          return val;
YourValidator.java
     public void setForId(String f) {
          forId = f;
     public void validate(
          FacesContext context,
          UIComponent component,
          Object value)
          throws ValidatorException {
               int i1;
               int i2;
               try {
                    i1 = ((Integer) value).intValue();
                    UIComponent comp = component.findComponent(forId);
                    String val = (String)((UIInput)comp).getSubmittedValue();
                    i2 = Integer.parseInt(val);
               } catch (RuntimeException e) {
                    FacesMessage msg = new FacesMessage(e.getMessage());
                    throw new ValidatorException(msg);
               if (i1 != i2) {
                    FacesMessage msg = new FacesMessage("Error");
                    throw new ValidatorException(msg);
     }